Rota
ROTA Verpackungstechnik is a German family-owned manufacturer of aseptic primary packaging machinery for liquid pharmaceuticals, offering modular washing, sterilization, filling, closing, labeling, and complete line equipment for pharmaceutical, biotech, and veterinary drug manufacturers across more than 40 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1909
- HeadquartersWehr, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rota does
ROTA Verpackungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG is a German family-owned machinery manufacturer specializing in aseptic primary packaging equipment for liquid pharmaceuticals. The company traces its roots to 1909 and developed the world's first automatic ampoule filling and closing machine in 1925. After a 1995 restructuring in which the flowmeter division was integrated into the Yokogawa Group, ROTA was re-established as an independent family-run Mittelstand firm with approximately 30 employees and has since grown to over 100 employees at its Wehr, Germany headquarters. The company serves pharmaceutical, biotech, and veterinary drug manufacturers across more than 40 countries through direct sales, regional sales managers, and a global distributor network.
The company's product portfolio is a modular set of integrated machines covering the full fill-finish workflow. Core offerings include the RWM400 washing machine, the RT400 hot-air sterilization and depyrogenation tunnel (up to 350°C with HEPA-filtered Class A clean room atmosphere), the FLL301 filling and closing machine (using proprietary seal-less rotary piston or peristaltic pumps for volumes 0.2–250ml), the RE400 labeling machine (up to 27,000 objects/hour), complete integrated lines (K60F series up to 24,000 units/hour), and the xfillR compact small-batch system handling 1 to 10,000 units at up to 1,800 units/hour. Technical differentiators include servo-drive architecture, rapid tool-less changeover, compatibility with oRABS/cRABS/isolator containment, and integration with Austar freeze dryers for lyophilized products. The portfolio addresses FDA, EMA, and GMP regulatory requirements.
ROTA's revenue model is built on quote-based, custom-engineered capital equipment sales supplemented by recurring service revenue. Primary streams are one-time capital equipment sales (machines and complete lines), spare and wear parts (supplied over several decades), maintenance and technical service by trained technicians, and custom format parts for machine adaptation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; contracts are net ex works Wehr with multi-year horizons. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales (regional managers in key markets such as Germany, France, and India) with channel partners and distributors across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Distribution is supported by participation in industry trade shows (ACHEMA, CPHI Milan), in-house demonstration events (xfillR Days), and direct digital marketing through the company website and LinkedIn.
Rota firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rota
- Legal name
- Rota Verpackungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://rota.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1909
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- ROTA Verpackungstechnik is a German family-owned manufacturer of aseptic primary packaging machinery for liquid pharmaceuticals, offering modular washing, sterilization, filling, closing, labeling, and complete line equipment for pharmaceutical, biotech, and veterinary drug manufacturers across more than 40 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rota industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Packaging Machinery
- NAICS
- Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aseptic Processing, Fill-Finish & Sterile Manufacturing Tech (isolators, lyophilization interfaces) (HLAAAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Drug Product Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing Services (HLAAAKAB), Filling & Dosing Equipment (Liquid, Powder, Aseptic) (IMALAOAB), Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF), Capping, Sealing & Closing Machines (IMAHAOAG)
Keywords
Where Rota is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wehr
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rota business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Capital Equipment Sales: Custom-designed and manufactured machines for aseptic fill-finish operations including washing, sterilizing, filling, closing, and labeling equipment. Machines are built to customer specifications with outputs up to 24,000 units per hour.
- Spare Parts: Supply of spare and wear parts for every machine over several decades. High in-house production capability and efficient stock-keeping of external components ensures rapid availability.
- Maintenance and Service: Technical support, inspection, and maintenance services provided by trained and experienced technicians. Ensures long-lasting use of ROTA machines.
- Format Parts: Custom format parts for machine adaptation when processing requirements change. Cost-effective and quick delivery for different object sizes and closures.
- Complete Lines: Turnkey production lines combining washing, sterilizing, filling, and closing machines for integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom capital equipment pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Rota product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rota Verpackungstechnik designs, manufactures, and services modular aseptic fill-finish machinery for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The portfolio covers washing, sterilizing, filling, closing, and labeling of ampoules, vials, syringes, cartridges, and nested objects, with capacities from 1 unit up to 24,000 objects per hour. The company also provides spare parts, format parts, and maintenance services for its installed base of machines.
Product overview
Rota Verpackungstechnik offers a comprehensive modular machine portfolio for aseptic primary packaging of liquid pharmaceuticals. The core product lineup includes: the xfillR compact aseptic filling system for small batches (1-10,000 units); complete production lines (K60F series) for high-volume manufacturing up to 24,000 objects/hour; standalone machines including the RWM400 washing machine, RT400 sterilization tunnel (up to 350°C), FLL301 filling and closing machine (ampoules, vials, syringes), and RE400 labeling machine (up to 27,000 objects/hour); and nest processing systems for pre-sterilized objects. The portfolio also includes external cleaning solutions (RWA) and service offerings for spare parts, format parts, and maintenance. Machines feature servo-drive technology, rapid changeover, compact footprints, and options for RABS and isolator integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- xfillR: Small batch aseptic filling machine for format flexibility. The xfillR is an innovative multipurpose machine for processing different objects such as vials, syringes, eye droppers, nasal sprays, cartridges, micro-tubes, in nests, trays and in bulk.
Products and services
- xfillR Small Batch Aseptic Filling System
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 24,000 units per hour output on production lines
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rota
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rota technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Rota partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Franz ZielmajorPartner for containment protection solutions at xfillR days events. Franz Ziel provides isolation technology solutions integrated with ROTA's small batch filling equipment.
- Stäubli RoboticsmajorRobotics partner for xfillR events demonstrating flexible robot deployment in aseptic filling applications. Stäubli provides robotics expertise for automation integration.
- Shehab EngineeringmajorSales representative for Egypt and received ROTA Sales Award 2021. Shehab Engineering has been a trusted partner representing ROTA in the Egyptian market.
- Austar Pharmaceutical EquipmentcoreExpanded partnership with Austar complements ROTA's portfolio with freeze drying capabilities, including automatic loading and unloading systems and barrier systems. Austar freeze dryers developed in Germany are widely used in pharmaceutical fields for antibodies, therapeutic proteins, peptides, vaccines, and highly potent compounds.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rota competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Optima Packaging Group: German manufacturer of filling and packaging machinery including aseptic pharmaceutical lines for vials, syringes, and ampoules. Direct competitor with similar German Mittelstand positioning.
- Bausch+Strobel: German manufacturer of aseptic filling and packaging machines for pharmaceutical ampoules, vials, syringes, and cartridges. Closest direct competitor to ROTA in pharmaceutical primary packaging machinery.
- Gröninger: German manufacturer of filling and closing machinery for pharmaceutical liquids in vials, syringes, and cartridges. Direct mid-sized peer with similar German Mittelstand footprint and customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Syntegon (formerly Bosch Packaging Technology): Global incumbent offering comprehensive pharmaceutical processing, filling, and packaging equipment including aseptic fill-finish lines. Competes with ROTA in integrated turnkey lines and complete production systems.
- Marchesini Group: Italian packaging machinery manufacturer serving pharmaceuticals and cosmetics with filling, capping, and labeling lines. Competes with ROTA in end-of-line packaging and complete line solutions.
- GEA Group: Diversified industrial equipment supplier with a pharmaceutical separation and aseptic processing portfolio. Competes with ROTA in liquid pharmaceutical processing equipment for major manufacturers.
- Coesia: Italian industrial group with multiple pharmaceutical packaging machinery subsidiaries. Competes broadly with ROTA in primary and secondary pharmaceutical packaging equipment.
- IMA Group (Industria Macchine Automatiche): Italian multinational specializing in automated machinery for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food. Overlaps with ROTA in aseptic processing and packaging for injectables.
Emerging players
- Stevanato Group: Italian provider of integrated containment and delivery solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, including glass primary packaging and fill-finish systems. Emerging as a vertically integrated competitor in the aseptic space.
- Aseptic Technologies (Aseptic Group): Specialist in plastic ampoule-based aseptic filling technologies. Overlaps with ROTA in flexible aseptic fill-finish for injectables, particularly in clinical and small-batch applications.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rota social profiles
Digital presenceRota compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Rota financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rota leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Rota funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rota M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rota
What does Rota do?
Rota Verpackungstechnik designs, manufactures, and services modular aseptic fill-finish machinery for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The portfolio covers washing, sterilizing, filling, closing, and labeling of ampoules, vials, syringes, cartridges, and nested objects, with capacities from 1 unit up to 24,000 objects per hour. The company also provides spare parts, format parts, and maintenance services for its installed base of machines.
Is Rota a public or private company?
Rota is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Rota founded?
Rota was founded in 1909. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Rota based?
Rota is headquartered in Wehr, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Rota make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Capital Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are spare Parts, maintenance and Service, format Parts and complete Lines.
Who are Rota's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Optima Packaging Group, Bausch+Strobel and Gröninger. Broad incumbents are Syntegon (formerly Bosch Packaging Technology), Marchesini Group, GEA Group, Coesia and IMA Group (Industria Macchine Automatiche). Emerging players are Stevanato Group and Aseptic Technologies (Aseptic Group).
Does Rota have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rota.
What industry is Rota in?
Rota's product category is Pharmaceutical Packaging Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAJAG, Aseptic Processing, Fill-Finish & Sterile Manufacturing Tech (isolators, lyophilization interfaces), with a secondary code of HLAAAKAB, Drug Product Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing Services. Its NAICS code is 3339 and its SIC code is 3559.